Animal-trap.



R. M. WILBUR.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1909.

942,52& I Patented 990.7,1909.

ANDREW. av GRAHAM co" PNOTO-LITHOGRAFNERS. wasnmemu. n c4 REUBEN 1V1.WILIBUB, OFLEADVILLE, COLORADO.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Application filed January 18, 1909. Serial No. 472,946.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN M. WILBUR, citizen of the United States,residing at Leadville, in the county of Lake and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps, of whichthe following is a specification.

The purpose of this invention is to supply a trap which may be cheaplyconstructed and which, in operation, is effective and sensitive so as tobe sprung by the weight of the animal stepping upon the base orplatform.

With this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructionsand arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe,and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and toacquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to behad to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap embodying the invention,showing the fly or jaw set; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the flyor jaw sprung; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the trap on the linegr-00 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line g g ofFig. 2; and, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the trigger.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

In its formation, the trap comprises a platform or base 1, a fly or jaw2 and a trigger 8.

The platform may be of any formation and is preferably constructed ofsheet metal having end portions folded so as to provide longitudinalbearings 1 at the edges of the platform. An edge portion 5 extends thefull width of the platform and is confined at its free edge by theopposite edge portion 6, the latter being comparatively narrow andserving as securing means for the part 5 and to provide a longitudinalbearing for a trigger. Loops 7 project from the base or platformintermediate of the ends thereof and receive the pivot wire 8 of the jawor fly. The loops 7 are formed by bending end portions of a folded wireabout at right angles, said wire being confined between the upper andlower portions of the platform, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3.

The fly or jaw 2 is of rectangular formation and is constructed of asingle wire in the form substantially as shown, an end portion of thewire forming the axis about which the fly or jaw turns and beingreceived in the loops 7. A coil spring 9 is mounted upon the wire 8, andone end engages the platform and the opposite end engages the sidemember of the fly or jaw so as to close the same upon the platform orbase, as indicated in Fig. 2. The spring 9 is at all times undertension.

The trigger is provided in duplicate and consists of a shaft 10, a catch11 and a pedal 12. The trigger is formed of a single length of wire, theend portions of which are bent about as indicated, to form the parts 11and 12. The shaft 10 is mounted in a longitudinal bearing 1 and is aboutequal in length to the length of the platform or base. Longitudinalmovement of the trigger is prevented by the bent end portions thereofforming the parts 11 and 12 which engage opposite ends of the bearing1.- The catch 11 is of hook form and is adapted to extend over an endportion of the platform to engage with the jaw or fly, as indicated inFig. 1. The pedal 12 extends beneath the platform and is adapted to lieclose against the same when the trap is sprung, as indicated in Fig. 2,but when the trap is set, the trigger 12 inclines to the horizontal, asindicated in Fig. 1. By providing two triggers, the trap is held leveland the jaw or fly is relieved of torsional strain and is held close tothe platform when the trap is set, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 illustrates the normal position of the parts. Vhen the trap isset, as indicated in Fig. 1, the fly or jaw is turned back upon theplatform against the tension of the spring 9 and is engaged by thecatches 11 of the two triggers. The trap, when set, is placed upon thefloor or other supporting surface and is held elevated at one end by thepedals 12. Any suitable bait is placed upon the platform to entice theanimal. By reason of the inclination of the pedals 12, any slightpressure upon the platform moves the pedals and rocks the triggers,thereby disengaging the catches 11 from the fly or jaw, which lattermoves quickly by the action of the spring 9 and confines the animalbetween the platform and jaw in the manner well known.

To prevent displacement of the bait 13 securing means are employed andcooperate with the platform, the same consisting of an elastic band 14,which may be slipped upon the platform and may be readily replaced atany time. The provision of the elastic band enables the position of thebait to be changed at will.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a platform formed of a strip of material bent uponitself to form superposed plates, the longitudinal edge of one of whichoverlaps the longitudinal edge of the other, a spring-actuated jawmounted upon the platform, longitudinal shafts j ournaled between saidplates at opposite edges of the platform, catches at one end of theshafts to engage with the jaw and hold the same when the trap is set,and pedals at the opposite ends of the shafts to extend beneath theplatform and support the same at one end.

2. In a trap of the character described, the

longitudinal edge thereof bent to provide a' bearing, a spring actuatedjaw mounted upon the platform, a trigger journaled in said longitudinalbearing and comprising a shaft having a catch at one end thereof, and apedal at its opposite end, the pedal being bent at an angle to thelongitudinal plane of the shaft and having its free end inclineddownwardly beneath the platform and terminating approximately at themiddle longitudinal line of said platform.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN M. VVILBUR.

Vitnesses GORMAN I-I. CUDWELL, FRANK H. DONOVAN.

